Omkara had always seen the sky as much similar to human mind. Like the colors in the sky fade away at sunset leaving just darkness all around, he was seeing Gauri fade. She was fading away under the pain of loss. She barely spoke. When she spoke it was only for arrangements or for formality. A week had passed. Just like the Mumbai weather  everything was gloomy. 

Omkara knocked on the door taking a deep breath. He was very careful around Gauri, trying to weigh his words and measure it's possible impact before speaking them. 

"Come in, it's open," He heard her voice.

"Hey!" He greeted softly, shutting the door gently walking upto the bed. His gaze falling on the word search she was playing.

Omkara sat on the bed facing her, his on leg folded while the other dangled on the side. She met his gaze, nervously.

"There were a few decisions you need to make." He began, gauging her expressions. "About the the thirteenth day rituals."

"I don't know about it," Gauri said uncertainly. The Oberois were being kind enough treating her and her late father as family. Tej Uncle had been kind enough to let the last rites happen at their home. Gauri had noticed the friction within the family due to her stay. However, Omkara and Shivaay had made it pretty clear to her that she was like family.

"I didn't know too, until Daadi left." Omkara answered. "We had the Akhand Paatth starting on the tenth day. Until the thirteenth day where we kept the ceremony for relatives."

"We don't have any relatives. I mean, Papa didn't really keep in touch. Besides there has just been a wedding in the family, they probably won't want to attend a funeral. Besides, I don't see any reason inviting any one. We didn't really have good relations just namesake."

"I understand. I know this can be so hard Gauri." He sighed, preparing himself for the next topic. "When do you want to leave for the States? There are a lot of formalities you need to carry out."

"I know, Mr. Wilson told me. I don't know Omkara, really, I don't know." She whispered, her eyes moist. 

Omkara placed his hand on hers, sympathetically.

"How am I going to manage it all? It's overwhelming. Mr. Wilson strongly recommended having a ceremony in the States as well. I barely know anyone."

"You're not alone Gauri. Shivaay and I will be there too. You don't need to stress and fear anything."

Gauri have a weak smile giving his hands a light squeeze. "Thank you, for everything Omkara. I don't know how I would have managed all of this without you and your family's support. But, I don't want to upset your family. As it is you you having have been kind, having an almost stranger's funeral at your home."

"Gauri," He said, looking at her reassuringly.

Gauri fought her tears. "Why?" She asked softly looking at him.

Omkara looked at their hands, thoughtfully.

Gauri spoke up again, "The day dad passed away, you were telling me something..." 

Omkara's gaze raised up to meet hers. "I was. But, with everything... I think you need time and space to get over all of this. I don't want to add to that at the moment. Gauri, let me be your friend. I know I have hurt you in the past behaving like a complete jerk. But I promise, this time, I won't leave. I will be with you, okay?"

"Okay, Omkie!" She smiled, with tears threatening to spill of her eyes.

Omkara's lips curved up charmingly, it was after a long time he was seeing that genuine smile again, and he knew that that the smile required a lot of strength. He got off the bed, moved a few steps forward gave her a quick hug and made his way out of the room. Once out he shut the door and stood by the wall with a small smile on his face. It felt nice, it felt liberating to — not resist and speak what was in the heart.

Gauri wiped her tears. She didn't know whether it was Omkara's pity on her loss or something else that had given her, her friend back. A friend she could count on. She lay on the bed hugging the cushion. Her mind going back to all the decisions she had to make. It was a rough patch ahead but now that she knew Omkara would be there with her, she wasn't that scared.

* * *

Home had to make you feel safe. But as Gauri stood before hers, she didn't feelt hat anymore. Maybe because she knew that this home didn't have her father. 

"Aunty Shah!" She greeted as the elderly looking housekeeper dressed in a simple saaree rushed to greet her. 

"How have you been sweetie?" She asked hugging her. 

"Okay, Auntie. I am so sorry about your father Gauri."

Gauri nodded briefly. She glanced back at her guests. "This is Omkara, Shivaay and Anika." She introduced each of them. 

"This is our housekeeper, like a family member, Aunty Shah!" Gauri told them as they walked in. Initially only Omkara and Shivaay were to accompany her back to States. But later on Anika joined them too. Gauri had already instructed the housekeeper on call for making arrangements for her guests. 

She couldn't believe it had been two weeks already. It still felt like her father would come back. 

"Make yourself at home, please. Aunty will help you with anything you need."

"She has been here for long time now?" Anika asked.

"Yeah, since the time I was five. She's raised me, really." Gauri answered.

"Chris, why don't you show them the room." Aunty Shah asked one of the servants. Anika and Shivaay followed the house help while the driver followed them with the luggage. 

Omkara looked at Gauri. 

"I will show you yours." She said. "Auntie, we'll come down for lunch in some time."

The lady nodded. 

"This way," she said leading him to the steps. 

"I can't believe you ran away from this place. It's beautiful." Omkara remarked.

Gauri smiled, feeling the guilt pinch her. "I know right, complete idiot."

"Don't have to be so hard on yourself!" He commented. 

Gauri turned to look at him. 

"This house is way too big for two people." He said ignoring her look. 

"It always was. Probably the reason why distance creeps up in relationships. That's my room," she pointed to the door on right and then pointed to the room on the left, "and that's the one you will be occupying."

Omkara bobbed his head, "is that why you're trying to keep minimum distance between our rooms?" He asked with a playful smile. He couldn't resist the temptation.

Gauri looked a bit confused. "What?"

"Lesser distance in rooms," He pointed between the doors. "Lesser distance between us..." He moved his finger between them. He noticed how quickly her cheeks flushed. "As friends." He added, holding back his smile. He saw the relief on her face.

"Oh," Gauri forced a chuckle out, looking away. "I.. I will go freshen up. Let's meet over lunch."

"Yeah, okay." Omkara smiled and as soon as she walked away towards her room, his smile broadened. 

Gauri blushed shutting the door of her room. Was he flirting or was it just in her head? Omkara and flirting? No way. She probably misunderstood something he was trying to imply. She sighed looking around. Her smile faded looking at the photo-wall. There were only two photo that had her father. He wasn't really a pro-photo person. She walked up to it and ran her fingers over the frame. She missed him. 

After a quick shower, Gauri slipped out of her room and went up the stairs. Using the duplicate she unlocked the floor. It was his father's private space. There was one study room, another office room and a spacious living space with an open bar on the side. Gauri wasn't really fond of this space, mostly because her father chose to spend his time here than with her. She walked up to the wall that had a huge portrait of him. 

He was gone.

The truth was still hard to digest. Gauri felt sorry. Sorry for running away. Sorry for wasting all the time she had with him, fighting and arguing. "I am sorry," she whispered and ran her gaze around the room. Sighing she left the floor, locking it away.

As she made her way down she ran into Omkara who had just stepped out of the room. She wiped her tears quickly trying to put up a smile.

He glanced at her. One look and he knew she had been crying. 

"I am very hungry." He said.

"Oh me too!" Gauri muttered moving with him. 

His hand brushed hers. At the third brush, he held her hand. "It's all going to fall in place, ultimately!"

Gauri offered him a grateful smile.

* * *

A day had rolled by. The awkwardness with Omkara's family was slowly dissipating. Gauri had begun to look up to Shivaay. The man had a razor sharp mind. He was being the older brother she never had. Gauri looked at Shivaay and then Omkara as her father's attorney, Mr. Wilson greeted them.

"How have you been holding?" He asked Gauri.

Gauri gulped the lump in her throat and spoke up, "it's hard." She glanced at Omkara who gave her a reassuring look.

"Miss Verma," He looked at the two men hesitantly. "What I am about to discuss his very personal matter. Would you like me to go ahead or prefer to conduct it more privately.

"You can go ahead, Mr. Wilson. They're like my family."

The man looked a little unconvinced and gave Omkara and Shivaay a careful look. 

"I can step out, if you'd wish Gauri." Shivaay offered.

Gauri glanced at him, "No, please stay." She turned to look at Mr. Wilson, gesturing him to go on. 

The man went on listing all her father's assets, ongoing deals that as per contract agreement were dissolved owing to his death. He patiently went on explaining the process to her with relevant documentation for the process of inheritance. Gauri was overwhelmed. This was way too much responsibility for a girl who had always been under her over protective father's shadow. 

"Can I take a day for these?" She asked pointing to the papers he needed immediate signatures on. 

"Sure." The man replied.

The meeting went on for more than an hour. Once the man left Gauri sighed looking at all the different files and papers.

Shivaay who had been sitting behind at the table, walked over and took the chair that Mr. Wilson had been seated on. "Never ask questions to an attorney doubtfully." He advised. 

Gauri nodded. 

"Gauri, would you want us to cross verify whatever the man had said?"

"He's a reliable man, I belive. But yes, I would appreciate any help." Gauri  answered fidgeting with the key that the man had handed her just before leaving.

"Is everything okay?" Shivaay asked, observing Gauri's restless hand movements.

"Yeah. I want to check this out." She held up the key, "maybe after that we can go through the papers together?"

"Sure."

Gauri excused herself, as they moved out of the room. She knew what the key was to. She made her way to her room to retrieve a key that her father had given her few years back. He had said that there was a safe in his study that opened with two keys. Her instinct told her it was this key. She made her way to the study. She looked around, and her eyes stopped at the book shelf. 

She wasn't sure which book it was behind. She began stacking up books on the huge wooden table. She stooped only when she found  a button of sorts behind a couple of books. She pressed it. Nothing happened at first. But a few seconds later the painting on the opposite wall slid. Gauri almost freaked out. 

She walked up the safe and unlocked it using both the keys. Just as she had imagined it opened up. There was jewelry and some cash. She rummaged through the contents and found a letter, it was addressed to her.

She opened it.

Dear Gauri,

All this jewelry and bridal attire belonged to your Mumma. I am sure she would have loved to see you in them on your own wedding day. 

Love,

Papa.

Gauri was in tears. She never remembered her dad writing a letter tobher ever. She caressed his signature. Keeping the letter with her she locked the safe, walking back to the shelf she moved the switch back to it original position. The safe was pulled in, and concelaed under the painting. 

After restoring the books on the shelf, Gauri walked back into the meeting room, remembering the brown cardboard box. She tore the tape and found a letter and a few photo albums. Putting the letter aside she opened the photo album. Her jaw dropped open. It was her parent's wedding album. She had never seen it before. She remembered asking her father about it but he had dismissed her saying it was lost when they had moved into the place. 

She hadn't really seen picture of her mother. There were very few, for instance, one when she was a baby in her arms and there was another when her mother was a teenager, that she had found in a book her father had gifted her for her thirteenth birthday. There were a few more.

In awe, she skimmed through the sheets. Her mother had striking resemblance to her. She picked up the other photo album. It what so many picture of her as a baby with her parents. Her father looked dashing and had a beautiful smile. The one she rarely saw. With tears, she saw the photos. They were one happy family. She wondered why he had never showed her these earlier. 

She picked up he third. There were so many candid photographs of her childhood mostly with her mother. She assumed her father would have clicked most of them. She smiled through her tears watching her childhood through those captured memories. Her smile faded as she came across pictures of her mother with a baby bump— the baby that never came.

Gathering herself after some time, Gauri shifted her new belongings to her room. She tried to hold herself together, put up a smile and went downstairs to have lunch with her guests. The tri were already at the dining table talking to Aunty Shah.

Gauri smiled weakly as the kind lady gave her a look of concern. 

"We were talking about the arrangement of the service for this evening for your father. The custom is that you'll have to make a short speech. I have the planned for the high tea in lawn."

"Thank you, Aunty."

The lady smiled pulling the chair for Gauri. Gauri looked at the food with no appetite. 

"Come on eat a little, I have made your favorite aloo curry."

Gauri sat and smiled at the lady gratefully. She pulled her lips into a smile meeting the gaze of the others. 

"Gauri," Anika began. "Did you go to college here?" 

"Yes, I did."

"Is the college really like how they show in the movies? Like a group of mean girls, prom and all."

"More or less!" Gauri's face lit up as her eyes met Omkara's.

"How was your prom?" Anika asked.

"Anika, will you let her eat."

"You always have a prom every time I bring up the word prom." Anika muttered.

"Really Shivaay?" Omkara smirked looking at his brother. 

"Shut up and eat your lunch!" Shivaay mumbled, glaring at Omkara. 

Omkara chuckled looking at Gauri, he winked at her. Gauri couldn't help but smile at that. Despite everything, Omkara made her heart feel light and fluttery like a butterfly. She concentrated on her food. Maybe it was the sudden loneliness or the same old feeling— something like love?

Would like to know your thoughts on this chapter. 

I hope the pace is okay. Feedback is always welcome.

-Anami!♡